Stephen Hawking Says These 3 Things Could Destroy Human Civilization

3/02/2015

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Stephen Hawking may be the most famed for his work
on black holes and gravitational singularities, but the Prof. Stephen Hawking
has also turn out to be known for his straightforward ideas about things that
could put an end to human civilization. Hawking suffers from a motor neuron
disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which left him
paralyzed for several years now and unable to speak without specific a voice
synthesizer. But that still hasn't stopped the University of Cambridge
professor from making announcements about the extensive range of dangers
humanity faces — counting ourselves. Here are a three things Hawking has said
might bring about the end of human civilization as we know it.

Credit: Flickr/NASA HQ PHOTO.

Artificial intelligence(AI)

Hawking is part of a small but rising group of
researchers who have stated concerns
about "strong" artificial intelligence (AI) — intelligence
that could compete or surpass that of a human. Here is what Hawking told the
BBC in December 2014 “The development of full artificial intelligence could
spell the end of the human race,". The statement was in a reply to a query
about a new AI voice-synthesizing system that Hawking has been using at the
moment. Hawking's warnings echo those of well-known billionaire entrepreneur
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and also Tesla Motors, who has entitled AI humanity's
"major existential threat." Just Last month, Hawking, Musk and lots
of other scientific bigwigs signed an open letter unfolding
the dangers, along with the benefits, of AI.

Here is what they mentioned in the letter
"Because of the great potential of AI, it is important to research how to
reap its benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls," The letter was
issued online on Jan. 11 by the Future of Life Institute, a volunteer society
that targets to alleviate existential dangers to humanity. But several AI researchers
say humanity is nowhere close of being able to produce strong AI.

Human aggression

Hawking
also considers that human aggression might put an end to civilization.
He said this while giving a tour of the London Science Museum to Adaeze
Uyanwah, a 24-year-old teacher from California who won a competition from
VisitLondon.com. When Uyanwah asked Hawking, "What human shortcomings
would you most like to alter?" Hawking replied: "The human failing I
would most like to correct is aggression. It may have had survival advantage in
caveman days, to get more food, territory or partner with whom to reproduce,
but now it threatens to destroy us all," The
Independent stated. For instance , a major nuclear war would possibly end
civilization, and might wipe out the human race, Hawking added. When questioned
which human quality he would most like to magnify, Hawking selected empathy,
because "it brings us together in a peaceful, loving state."

Hawking also mentioned tha space exploration will be
significant to guaranteeing the survival of humanity. Cambridge
News reported "I believe that the long-term future of the human
race must be space, and that it represents an important life insurance for our
future survival, as it could prevent the disappearance of humanity by
colonizing other planets,"

Alien life

Back in 2010,
Hawking said that, if intelligent alien life exists in the cosmos, it may not
be that welcoming toward humans. Hawking in an episode of "Into the
Universe with Stephen Hawking," a show presented by the Discovery Channel,
said "If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when
Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well
for the Native Americans," Advanced alien civilizations might become
travelers, considering to defeat and colonize whatever planets they might land
on, Hawking also said. "If so, it makes sense for them to exploit each new
planet for material to build more spaceships so they could move on. Who knows what
the limits would be?"

From the threat of Artifical Intelligence (AI), to
intelligent aliens, to aggressive humans, Hawking's point of view for humanity
is looking quite ugly.

This
blog is managed by Umer Abrar. To contact the editor, write to mirzavadoodulbaig@gmail.com
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